SOMERVILLE-- After months of lobbying by local immigrants and immigration activists, Mayor Joseph Curtatone has endorsed the Welcoming Massachusetts campaign's, an immigrant's rights initiative.
Curtatone signed the Welcoming Massachusetts petition at a meeting with leaders of local organizations Centro Presente, Somerville Community Corporation and The Welcome Project at Maya Sol restaurant.
"The mayor and this administration remain committed to ensuring that Somerville remains a great place to live, work, play and raise a family, for all residents," said Jackie Rossetti, a spokesman for the mayor, in an email.
Welcoming Massachusetts is a statewide coalition formed in October 2007 to win more rights, particularly employment rights, for immigrants regardless of their legal status.
The goal of the campaign is to collect 100,000 signatures to push legislators to pass a resolution to make Massachusetts a welcoming State for immigrants of all legal statuses, according to the Welcoming Massachusetts website.
Curtatone signed the Welcoming Massachusetts petition at a meeting with leaders of local organizations Centro Presente, Somerville Community Corporation and The Welcome Project at Maya Sol restaurant.
"The mayor and this administration remain committed to ensuring that Somerville remains a great place to live, work, play and raise a family, for all residents," said Jackie Rossetti, a spokesman for the mayor, in an email.
Welcoming Massachusetts is a statewide coalition formed in October 2007 to win more rights, particularly employment rights, for immigrants regardless of their legal status.
The goal of the campaign is to collect 100,000 signatures to push legislators to pass a resolution to make Massachusetts a welcoming State for immigrants of all legal statuses, according to the Welcoming Massachusetts website.
The mayor's endorsement came during the coalition's Week of Action, Oct. 12-19, when members met with community activists in towns and cities across the state.
The mayor signed on to the campaign, presented to him by former Centro Presente Director Elena Letona, because it coincides with his efforts to create an environment of equality in Somerville, Rosetti said.
The campaign has also received endorsements from Boston's Mayor Menino, as well as the mayors of Revere, Everett, Medford, Pittsfield and Cambridge.
"Mayor Curtatone has been working continuously with members of the Somerville Youth Council, made up of students of many ages and races, to pass a resolution in Somerville, to promote the fact that residents of all nationalities are welcome in this city," Rossetti said.
The Somerville Community Corporation, whose community leaders promote diversity and tolerance, is supporting Welcoming Massachusetts and providing links to the coalition's website and contact information for further inquiries on their website.
"I believe that those of us born in the U.S. have at least that minimum obligation with respect to how we treat newcomers to our country," said Danny LeBlanc, Chief Executive Officer of the Somerville Community Corporation, in a press release.The Welcome Project, another community group supporting the Welcoming Massachusetts agenda, helps immigrant families settle and assimilate into Somerville, provides English language classes and is working to obtain voting rights for non-citizen immigrants.
The mayor said at the meeting that he plans to encourage fellow mayors in the state to support the campaign.
"Mayor Curtatone supports all residents of all ages and backgrounds who are committed to bettering the lives of our residents, and to making a positive impact on our community," Rossetti said.
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